What is the European Union's military policy?

Defence policy has traditionally been the responsibility of the European
union's individual nation states, although there is growing pressure for a
common defence policy.

Secret proposals tabled by Lady Ashton, the EU foreign minister and seen by The Daily Telegraph called for a 'permanent civilian-military planning and conduct capability'Photo: AFP

6:30AM BST 08 Sep 2011

The possibility of a common EU defence policy was laid down in Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union in 2009, which entered into force on December 1 2009 with the Treaty of Lisbon.

"The common security and defence policy shall include the progressive framing of a common defence policy. This will lead to a common defence, when the European Council, acting unanimously, so decides," the Treaty of Lisbon states.

France and Germany now support the creation of an EU "operational military headquaters", which is fiercely resisted by Britain and which was vetoed by William Hague in July.

"I have made very clear that the United Kingdom will not agree to a permanent operational HQ. We will not agree to it now and we will not agree to it in the future. That is a red line," the Foreign Secretary said.

Secret proposals tabled by Lady Ashton, the EU foreign minister and seen by The Daily Telegraph called for a "permanent civilian-military planning and conduct capability" or "OHQ".